{"id":1519,"date":"2026-03-20T08:00:32","date_gmt":"2026-03-20T12:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/phish-files\/?p=1519"},"modified":"2026-03-17T14:36:54","modified_gmt":"2026-03-17T18:36:54","slug":"what-attackers-know-about-registration-week","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.montclair.edu\/phish-files\/2026\/03\/20\/what-attackers-know-about-registration-week\/","title":{"rendered":"What Attackers Know About Registration Week"},"content":{"rendered":"
Course <\/span>registration <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>busy <\/span>and <\/span>sometimes <\/span>stressful <\/span>time\u2014<\/span>and <\/span>cybercriminals <\/span>know <\/span>it. <\/span>When <\/span>students <\/span>are <\/span>rushing <\/span>to <\/span>secure <\/span>classes, <\/span>checking <\/span>waitlists, <\/span>or <\/span>resolving <\/span>registration <\/span>holds, <\/span>attackers <\/span>take <\/span>advantage <\/span>of <\/span>the <\/span>urgency <\/span>by <\/span>sending <\/span>convincing <\/span>phishing <\/span>emails.<\/span><\/p>\n These <\/span>scams <\/span>often <\/span>impersonate <\/span>university <\/span>offices <\/span>such <\/span>as <\/span>the <\/span>Registrar, <\/span>Financial <\/span>Aid, <\/span>IT, <\/span>or <\/span>Academic <\/span>Advising. <\/span>Taking <\/span>a <\/span>moment <\/span>to <\/span>pause <\/span>before <\/span>clicking <\/span>can <\/span>help <\/span>protect <\/span>your <\/span>account <\/span>and <\/span>personal <\/span>information.<\/span><\/p>\n Attackers <\/span>rely <\/span>on <\/span>timing. <\/span>When <\/span>people <\/span>expect <\/span>important <\/span>emails <\/span>about <\/span>schedules, <\/span>holds, <\/span>or <\/span>account <\/span>access, <\/span>they <\/span>are <\/span>more <\/span>likely <\/span>to <\/span>click <\/span>quickly <\/span>without <\/span>double-<\/span>checking.<\/span><\/p>\n Common <\/span>scam <\/span>messages <\/span>during <\/span>registration <\/span>include:<\/span><\/p>\n Claims <\/span>that <\/span>there <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>problem <\/span>with <\/span>your <\/span>registration<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Alerts <\/span>saying <\/span>your <\/span>account <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>locked<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Requests <\/span>to <\/span>confirm <\/span>your <\/span>student <\/span>record<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Links <\/span>to \u201c<\/span>fix\u201d <\/span>a <\/span>registration <\/span>hold<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Messages <\/span>about <\/span>tuition <\/span>payment <\/span>issues<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n These <\/span>emails <\/span>may <\/span>include <\/span>university <\/span>logos <\/span>or <\/span>familiar <\/span>language <\/span>to <\/span>appear <\/span>legitimate.<\/span><\/p>\n Even <\/span>convincing <\/span>phishing <\/span>emails <\/span>usually <\/span>contain <\/span>warning <\/span>signs. <\/span>Watch <\/span>for:<\/span><\/p>\n Urgent <\/span>language<\/span> (\u201c<\/span>Act <\/span>now <\/span>or <\/span>your <\/span>registration <\/span>will <\/span>be <\/span>cancelled\u201d)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Requests <\/span>for <\/span>passwords <\/span>or <\/span>verification <\/span>codes<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Links <\/span>to <\/span>unfamiliar <\/span>websites<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Emails <\/span>from <\/span>external <\/span>or <\/span>unusual <\/span>addresses<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n Poor <\/span>grammar <\/span>or <\/span>formatting<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n If <\/span>a <\/span>message <\/span>feels <\/span>rushed <\/span>or <\/span>alarming, <\/span>that\u2019s <\/span>often <\/span>intentional.<\/span><\/p>\n A <\/span>few <\/span>simple <\/span>habits <\/span>can <\/span>help <\/span>keep <\/span>your <\/span>account <\/span>secure:<\/span><\/p>\n Access <\/span>Why <\/span>Registration <\/span>Season <\/span>Is <\/span>Targeted<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Common <\/span>Red <\/span>Flags<\/span><\/h2>\n
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Protect <\/span>Your <\/span>Account <\/span>During <\/span>Registration<\/span><\/h2>\n
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